Rental Car
Pick Up Your Rental
Pick upCincinnati · Jul 3
Drop offPittsburgh · Jul 7
Total miles552 mi
Getting There · Step 1
Stay Tonight · Cincinnati, OH
Hotel
Cincinnati Overnight
Check-inFri, Jul 3
Check-outSat, Jul 4
First pitch7:10 PM ET
Book near downtown or the ballpark so your first-game arrival stays simple.
DAY 1
Friday, July 3
First pitch at 7:10 PM ET — Cincinnati Reds vs. Baltimore Orioles at Great American Ball Park tonight — Fireworks Friday tonight.
Stop 01 of 03
Cincinnati, OH · Fri Jul 3
Great American Ball Park
Cincinnati Reds · MLB
7:10 PM ET
vs. Baltimore Orioles
Must Eat at the Park
Cincinnati Chili Dog (Skyline)
Cincinnati chili served over a hot dog (the Cheese Coney). Skyline Chili has operated in Cincinnati since 1949.
Local Beer
MadTree Axis IPA
Cincinnati's most celebrated craft brewery. Axis IPA is their flagship.
MadTree Brewing
The Big Red Machine
Pilgrim Notes · Cincinnati Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati Overnight
Check-inFri, Jul 3
Check-outSat, Jul 4
First pitch tomorrow at 7:10 PM ET. Leave by 12:34 PM.
Sat Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:34 PM
Drive to Cleveland296 mi · 5.1h
Game time7:10 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · Cincinnati, OH
Before You Hit the Road
Price Hill Chili
Price Hill neighborhood. Cincinnati chili for breakfast is the move — a 3-way at 8 AM has no business working and yet it does. Open early for the pre-work crowd.
3-Way chili + coffee
Open 7 AM Mon–Sat
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Field of Corn (Cornhenge)
109 concrete ears of corn arranged in rows like Arlington National Cemetery outside Columbus. Each one weighs 1,500 lbs and stands 6 feet tall. There is no satisfying explanation.
Dublin, OH · 10 min detourCincinnati → Cleveland
296 mi · 5.1h · regional run
DAY 2
Saturday, July 4
Cincinnati to Cleveland is 5.1h — a solid drive, so leave early and plan a stop along the way. First pitch at 7:10 PM ET — Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field tonight — Guardians Patriotic Hat tonight. Field of Corn (Cornhenge) is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 02 of 03
Cleveland, OH · Sat Jul 4
Progressive Field
Cleveland Guardians · MLB
7:10 PM ET
vs. Chicago White Sox
Must Eat at the Park
Polish Boy Sausage
A kielbasa in a bun topped with french fries, coleslaw, and hot sauce. A Cleveland original found nowhere else.
Local Beer
Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold
The Cleveland craft institution. Dortmunder Gold has won more awards than any Ohio beer.
Great Lakes Brewing
The Longest Championship Drought and One Perfect Game
Pilgrim Notes · Cleveland Baseball History
Stay Tonight · Cleveland, OH
Cleveland Overnight
Check-inSat, Jul 4
Check-outSun, Jul 5
First pitch tomorrow at 6:40 PM ET. Leave by 12:45 PM.
Tue Morning
When to Depart
Leave by12:45 PM
Drive to Pittsburgh256 mi · 4.4h
Game time6:40 PM ET
Leave on time to allow for fuel, food, and parking.
Breakfast Stop · Cleveland, OH
Before You Hit the Road
West Side Market
Ohio City since 1912. The greatest market hall in the Midwest. Over 100 vendors — pierogi, kielbasa, fresh bread. Grab breakfast from multiple stalls and eat in the main hall. A Cleveland essential.
Fresh pierogi + kielbasa + bread from multiple stalls
Open 7 AM Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun
Lunch Stop · Multiple I-76 exits across Western PA
Midway Fuel-Up
Eat'n Park
The Pittsburgh chain since 1949 that defines Western PA comfort food. The Smiley cookie is iconic but the burgers, soups, and pie are the real reasons to stop. The purest expression of Pittsburgh diner culture.
Superburger + soup + Smiley cookie
Open 6 AM–midnight daily
Worth the Detour · +10 min
Zanesville Y-Bridge Ohio
The only Y-shaped bridge in the world. Cross it from any side, end up where you started.
Zanesville, OH · 10 min detourCleveland → Pittsburgh
256 mi · 4.4h · easy leg
DAY 5
Tuesday, July 7
First pitch at 6:40 PM ET — Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Atlanta Braves at PNC Park tonight. Zanesville Y-Bridge Ohio is worth 10 minutes off the highway.
Stop 03 of 03
Pittsburgh, PA · Tue Jul 7
PNC Park
Pittsburgh Pirates · MLB
6:40 PM ET
vs. Atlanta Braves
Must Eat at the Park
Primanti Brothers Sandwich
Pittsburgh's most iconic food in its natural habitat. Meat and cheese on airy Italian bread loaded with tomatoes, coleslaw, and french fries inside the sandwich. Designed for Pittsburgh truckers in 1933.
Local Beer
Fat Head's Bullpen Tap Bar
Eight rotating taps positioned directly above the Pirates bullpen. The only bar in baseball where you can watch a reliever warm up while drinking a Head Hunter IPA. Arrive before first pitch for a seat at the rail.
Fat Head's Brewery · North Olmsted, OH
Maz, Clemente, and the Most Beautiful View in Baseball
Pilgrim Notes · Pittsburgh Baseball History
What to Budget
Estimates only — prices vary by availability
Tickets · 3 games (avg $46)$138
Hotels · 4 nights (avg $155)$620
Fuel · 552 mi at $0.18/mi$99
Ballpark food & drinks$150
Total Estimate$1,007
* Estimates only. Prices vary.
How This Trip Was Planned
Our Algorithm
We evaluate many stop orders (up to seven parks: every permutation; larger trips: smart samples plus nearest-neighbor paths from home) and keep the version that preserves the most ballparks on your list with the least driving between games, inside an expanded or standard date ...